How to: back up your Google Docs files

So we’re all happy that this newfangled technology called cloud computing has enabled us to work on our office files, on the fly, without the need to install those pesky and bloated office suites, right? Especially when we’re all using netbooks (like the first Asus Eee – those machines sure are handy to bring along, but the storage limitations are really a bummer). Instead of installing an office suite, we just fire up our browser and head on over to Google Docs, and work away!

Come on, who doesn’t love Google Docs? It’s fast, it’s a complete office suite, works on any computer that can run any modern browser, it’s obviously cross-platform, it can support common file formats (even .docx!), and with the constant number of new features being continually added to it, it’s almost as good as those office suites we install on our computers.

Besides, since you work off a browser, all your files are stored in Google Docs’ servers. That means if you’re working on a lot of spreadsheets, you don’t have to worry about those files cluttering up your hard drive.

But come to think of it, having those files stored on a server miles away – heck, maybe even on the other side of the world – is also a cause for concern. What if you’re going someplace that doesn’t have easy internet access? What if you’re working on a sensitive file that’s for your eyes only? What if – egad – Google’s servers crash, taking your spreadsheets down with it?

That’s what GDocBackup is for. This is a (Windows-only) program that will let you, uh, back up an offline copy of your Google Docs files. Yeah, the name is pretty straightforward.

To use: just download it and install it. After installation, simply enter your Google account details into the configuration screen, pick a backup folder location, and click the Exec button to download all of your documents. You can even choose the format that you want to export them as—so if you wanted to download all presentations as PDF format, you can easily do so. Once you’ve run a backup once, the utility will only backup changed files on subsequent backup jobs—even though the backups are manual, it’s still worth a look if you want a simple, non-instrusive method for backing up your Google Documents.

So, don’t just sit there and take my word for it. Why don’t you give it a try? Tell me how it goes!